Lost Memories
-
Started: 10/4/2004
Revised: 6/9/2005
Reposted: 6/30/2005
Words: 1,875
Quote of the week: "Footsteps mark the path of one's destiny. Once a step has been taken, you can't go back." – Eden Huddleston
A/N: Here's the second chapter! Enjoy!
-
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is nowhere in my grasp, nor will it ever be.
-
Chapter 1
-
"Coming, coming!" yawned Kagome. She stifled another yawn. "I'm coming!"
Yanking open the front door, Kagome sighed upon seeing who was there. For the first time in two years, she hadn't dreamed. That perfect sleep was being interrupted by someone she didn't even know.
A very short, balding man was staring back at her. He had large eyes surrounded by wrinkles and droopy lips. His eyes darted everywhere, not focusing onto any certain thing, and he was slightly hunched. Overall, Kagome was reminded of a toad.
"May I help you?" Kagome asked politely.
"Miss Higurashi Kagome, I presume?" the man asked hesitantly, focusing on her for about ten seconds.
"Yes?"
"As you are not in work" the man continued, "I've been ordered to bring you this… You, and any other miscreant who decided to have a leave of absence."
He said this with a scowl and with a touch of disdain in his voice. Kagome rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her hip.
'Yeah right,' she thought. 'As if you've never missed a day of work, toady.'
As she thought that, the short man held out an ivory colored envelope. Kagome's eyes studied it before she slowly took it in her small hand. It was sealed, and the only thing on it was her name in a flowing manuscript. She looked up at him.
"And this is?" she asked.
"That is an invitation for all employees of Ashida Corporation," was the high wheezy answer. "The details are in - "
Kagome shut the door in his face. 'That has got to be the most annoying, toadiest man in Japan.'
"That has got to be the most annoying, ugliest woman in Japan," muttered the short man, walking to the nearest elevator. "Lord Sesshoumaru has some nerve to put up with these vile humans..."
Kagome dropped the envelope on the table next to the strange necklace, and walked upstairs to her room. Stretching again, she opened her closet door. Greeting her were clothes she was so familiar with she could find them in the dark. She pulled out a black, knee-high skirt with small slits on each side, a red, long-sleeved shirt that left the neck and shoulders bare, and a pair of black, two-inch strapped heels.
She didn't feel chagrined about missing work. In fact, she was totally ecstatic. She had slept without dreaming. That was what had really boosted her spirit. She quickly put on her outfit and pulled her hair up. A few disobedient strands fell back down and framed her face.
"What to do, what to do?" she asked herself, a finger on her chin. "Ah, what about a movie?"
Kagome grabbed her purse and ran out the door, the necklace and envelope the last thing on her mind.
-
He rubbed his temples slowly, listening to the annoying voice on the other line. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his feet and putting them onto the cedar desk. He muffled a sigh and yawned instead. It was time to put an end to this endless prattling.
"That is quite enough, dear brother," he broke in icily. "Do you have anything useful for me, or not? You are giving me a headache."
There was a pause on the other line before a question was asked, and then a request.
"So your roommate and you are bored over there in bloody England?" he asked mockingly, smirking when he heard cursing from the other end. "Yes, yes. I suppose you may come and stay. But I refuse to be the host of your… vacation. I expect you to come in and pull your own load. I do not harbor freeloaders, as you very well know."
More cursing.
"Oh, and I am having a banquet, so pack something adequate to wear. Good-day."
He hung up, sighing again. Would that he could be living in the old days again. He could roam freely as a demon and not have to worry about living among the humans, or passing as one of them like know. He especially wouldn't have to consort with lowly half-demons.
Humans had long since over-populated the demons. In order to prevent war, the demons and humans and half-demons had made peace. Uneasy as it was, the humans had continued to grow in number, and the demons began to fear for their survival and began casting spells to pass as humans. Now, only a select few humans knew demons existed anymore. Most believed that demons only existed in myths. Even the demon exterminators were dwindling.
Sesshoumaru despised acting as human. But act he must, and it was for the better. He had long, flowing black hair down to his knees. He had normal, human nails, and all his markings were gone, minus the ones gracing his hips. His eyes still glared with pride and cold acceptance but now they were darker, more hazel than gold.
He groaned when an annoying voice was heard in the halls. 'Jaken, back from his errands. I wonder...'
He pushed a button on his desk intercom. "Kagura, send Jaken in immediately."
"Yes, Mr. Ashida."
Jaken and Kagura were demons as well. In fact, over half of his staff were demons, though they didn't look it. Jaken came in the office, lowering his eyes in respect. He came to the front of the desk, waiting to hear what his boss, no, master, wanted.
"How many people were not in work today?" Sesshoumaru asked, his hands folded in his lap. He smirked.
"Ten, my lord," was the quiet answer. He told the names of the 'delinquents.' "The rudest one, Lord Sesshoumaru, was a woman named Kagome Higurashi. She slammed - "
"What!" Sesshoumaru growled, narrowing his eyes. He sat up in his chair.
"I know, Lord Sesshoumaru! Slamming the door in my - "
"Jaken, what was the girl's name?" Sesshoumaru hissed. 'It cannot be! If this is the same girl, I must see for myself if all we did truly came to pass...'
"Kagome Higurashi, my Lord," Jaken answered fearfully.
'Kagome Higurashi, can it really be you? After all this time, you have reappeared. I wonder if my and Inuyasha's plan worked.'
"Ah, Lord Sesshoumaru? Is there a problem?"
Sesshoumaru regarded the imp with grave amusement. "Yes, Jaken, we have a serious problem, but it does not concern you. Find Kagome Higurashi and bring her to me immediately."
"Y-yes," whispered Jaken, rushing out.
Sesshoumaru stared out the window. He had to tell Inuyasha. Even if it hurt the half-demon.
-
Kagome walked happily out of the theater. She ignored the taunts and whistles of men nearby and hailed a taxi. She got in the back seat and told the driver where to go.
"Ashida Corporation, miss?" the driver asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.
"Yes. I think I'm late enough," answered Kagome. "I didn't go in because I woke up late. But I have some things to take care of, so I might as well do it."
The diver grunted, not really paying attention. In no time, they were at Ashida Corporation. Kagome paid the driver and got out of the taxi. Every day, the building impressed her. It was, to her knowledge, 42 stories, with tinted glass windows and black marble. She smoothed her skirt and began walking towards the front entrance. She stopped when the toady man from earlier burst out of the front door and rushed towards her. She narrowed her eyes when he stopped in front of her.
"Now what do you want?" she asked curtly. "I came to work, didn't I?"
"Don't be impudent," he replied. "Sesshoumaru wishes to see you."
"Ah, Sesshoumaru? Who's he?" Kagome asked, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Who's Sesshoumaru!" the man shrieked, eyes wide and actually focused. "You work in this company, right under his nose, and - "
"Jaken. That is enough."
Kagome noticed a man walk out of the building and walk serenely towards her and Jaken. Kagome gulped. He ws the handsomest man she'd ever seen. But he didn't seem right. He stared at her with intense hazel eyes. She had a sudden vision of silver hair and burning golden eyes. She began to tremble with fear for...
'For what?' Kagome chided herself. 'I have nothing to be afraid of. I'm just meeting the boss of the entire Ashida Corporation.'
Sesshoumaru watched as Kagome's facial features flip-flopped with different emotions. He smelled the scent of fear, and just as quickly as he smelled it, it disappeared and was replaced with the spicy scent of anger.
'Why the hell is she angry?' he wondered. 'And I'll be damned… She doesn't know who I am.'
"Who are you?" Kagome asked sharply, not able to hide her anger.
Sesshoumaru smirked and shot Jaken a sharp glance when he was about to speak. Then he glanced back at Kagome, who, he was surprised, was blushing and no longer looking at him. Instead, she was focusing on the ground intently.
Amusement danced in Sesshoumaru's eyes. 'I wonder what on this earth she could possibly be thinking of?'
When his mind began to wander, he forcefully focused on Kagome's face. The intensity of his gaze finally drew her eyes to his and he captured her.
"I am Sesshoumaru." He paused to see if she would react. When she didn't, he continued. "Ashida Sesshoumaru. I am the head of Ashida Corporation. Something concerning you has been... brought to my attention."
Kagome did not like his arrogant attitude one bit. She narrowed her eyes when he mentioned her, wondering what he was talking about.
"What about me?" Kagome asked, crossing her arms and raising her chin.
Sesshoumaru's amusement grew. He could tell that he was making her angrier. He decided to play with her.
"That is for our ears only," he said quietly, running his eyes over her body. When he brought his eyes back to hers, he laughed.
She was fuming. 'Who does he think I am? His personal plaything? Well, if that's what he thinks, he's got another thing coming.'
She raised her hand up and slapped him as hard as she could. The force turned his head sideways, and an angry red handprint materialized. At once, security guards ran toward them and grabbed Kagome's arms, cuffing them behind her back. Her mouth hung open in surprise, and she glared at the guard holding her.
Sesshoumaru fought the urge to kill her right then and there, knowing full well he shouldn't have been surprised; she was responding just the way she always had. He closed his eyes to hide the forthcoming tint of red. He swallowed and turned to look at Kagome. He noticed she had been handcuffed. With a jerk of his head, he headed back into the building and the guards and Jaken fell in step behind him. He noticed everyone staring at either him or Kagome, some with recognition, and some with plain curiosity. When he reached the elevator, he turned around and glared as the guards, Kagome, and Jaken got in behind him. The employees, when they met his angry glare, quickly went back to work.
However, when the elevator doors closed, the staff began to invent their own versions for what had happened.
-
Read and review! I'll update after 10 reviews. Until next time!